Today in MJJ HIStory

1995 - "HTWF", "Permanent Charities" and "EC2000" finance transportation facilities for 46 children from 18 countries to attend the "World Congress of Children" ("WCC") held at Neverland, a 3-day seminar and leadership preparation tackling children’s critical issues, such as reports on Switzerland’s child rights, the solutions being submitted by "HTWF" and "WWC" for the "World Summit of Children", during the United Nations’ Golden Jubilee in California. Jackson and his wife at the time, Lisa Presley, welcome the children to the residence. Additionally, "HTW" and "International Rescue Committee" channel 2 boxes of toys to the war regions of Bosnia-Herzegovina, while, along with "WCC" and "Children's Torch of Hope", convey "WCC"s mission and statement across the U.S. at over 30 events.
Filed under  //   1995  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1983 - Michael pays tribute to comic hero, Charles Chaplin, on the latter’s birthday, April 16, several photos of Jackson and pantomime actor, Samir Kamoun, having been published with them dressed as Chaplin and performing their own tribute to the late actor and director. Charles Spencer Chaplin, who died on Christmas Day in 1977, has been a significant professional and personal influence on Jackson since his childhood and, as he puts it:
"This is in memory of a great man who has touched the hearts of the world with his art of making people laugh and cry. You will always be in my heart. I love you, Charlie Chaplin."
Filed under  //   1983  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1984 - Michael Jackson equips a 19 – bed unit at "Mount Sinai Medical Center", a division of the "T.J. Martell Foundation for Leukemia and Cancer Research" and attends a dinner event organized by the said foundation. That day, he also poses for a picture with young David Smithee, which will unfortunately pass away a month later.

1989 - On occasion of the 1st ever World Music Awards show in Monaco, he receives an important honor, which is the "Philips Hall Of Fame Award For Special Achievement in Video", presented to by singer Whitney Houston at Jackson’s Neverland Ranch, for his "enormous contribution on the state of the art of video", and his "consistent artistic and technical excellence in all forms of video, and for raising the standard of the art form to new horizons". He also wins the World Music Video Award for number 1 Video In The World, "Dirty Diana".

1993 - Michael Jackson visits the Hasbro toy factory in Powtucket, Rhode Island to witness how toys are made; he checks out the production line and fun room where toys are tested, as well as visits with children and signs autographs for them.

Filed under  //   1984   1989   1993  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1989 - Michael Jackson receives the awards for Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Music Video, and Best R&B single for "Man In The Mirror" at the 3rd Annual Soul Train Music Awards in the United States.

On winning Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Music Video for the socially-conscious, "Man In The Mirror", he declares the following:

"I want to thank the entire public; I want to thank everybody who worked on these wonderful projects. I like to thank all the children at the Cleveland School in Stockton, California... I love them very much; and you, the public, thank you very much. I love you."

1990 - 18-year old activist Ryan White dies from AIDS.

He has been treated as an outcast in his home town in Indiana since contracting the disease through a blood transfusion at 14, it has been reported. This will result in him being banned from his school in Kokomo, Indiana as parents would protest. Over 1,500 people attend White's funeral on April 11, a standing-room-only event held at the Second Presbyterian Church on Meridian Street in Indianapolis. White's pallbearers include Elton John, football star Howie Long and television talk show host, Phil Donahue. Elton John performs "Skyline Pigeon" at the funeral and also trains the Hamilton Heights High School choir to sing with him. The funeral is also being attended by friend Michael Jackson, seated beside Ryan’s sister, Andrea, and his mother, Jeanne (whom he comforts throughout the service) and First Lady, Barbara Bush. Busloads of Ryan's schoolmates at Hamilton Heights High School in Arcadia, 25 miles north of Indianapolis, also attend the funeral, which is carried live by ‘Cable News Network’.

1994 - Michael is presented in exulting cheers with the "Caring For Kids" celebrity award by 'Body Sculpt', (a charity teaching physical education to youngsters to keep them from drugs) at the second "Children's Choice Award" ceremony in New York. An estimated 75,000 people aged between 8 and 18 years old voting for him. 'Body Sculpt' votes Jackson as their favorite role model. The 'Caring For Kids' award honors celebrities devoting time to the youth.

Filed under  //   1989   1990   1994  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1984 - Through the auspices of the "Brass Ring Society", an organization which fulfills the wishes of terminally ill children, Michael welcomes 14-year-old David Smithee to his mansion, the boy suffering from cystic fibrosis, as a result, granting his last wish. During the afternoon visit at Jackson's Encino, California home, the boy watches a movie with Jackson in his home theater, plays video games and learns how to moonwalk from the star. Of the video games, David later tells, "I played two games with him and beat him both times." The visit was topped off with Jackson giving David the red leather jacket he had worn in the "Beat It" video and a beaded glove he had worn to the American Music Awards, where he collected eight awards. 7 weeks after, however, Smithee unfortunately passes away.


Michael Jackson remembers David by dedicating the Jacksons' Victory Album in his honor.
Filed under  //   1984  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1984 - The video "The Making of Michael Jackson's Thriller" was released and becomes the biggest-selling music video of all time. Michael: "The success of 'The Making of Thriller' was a bit of a shock to all of of." This record will later only be broken once...

Guess by whom...

Filed under  //   1984  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1973 - Michael’s hit song, Ben, from the soundtrack of the movie of the same name, was nominated for a Best Original Song Academy Award in 1973. Michael sang it at the ceremony on March 27, 1973, looking visibly older than he had when the song was released the previous summer. Unfortunately, Ben didn’t win the trophy that night.
Filed under  //   1973  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1983 - Billie Jean and Beat It were already on heavy MTV rotation when Michael agreed to appear alongside his brothers for Motown’s 25th anniversary television special, but only on condition that he also be allowed to perform Billie Jean in a solo spot.

Produced by Suzanne DePasse – who had been present at the Jackson Five’s audition nearly fifteen years earlier – Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever was taped at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on March 25, 1983 and broadcast nearly two months later on May 16th.

After Michael and his brothers – including Jermaine – performed a medley of their Motown hits, they left the stage while he grabbed a fedora hat while the opening notes to Billie Jean brought the crowd to its feet. In what would become his defining moment in show business, he performed his “moonwalk” dance for the first time during the song’s guitar break before the final chorus.

Filed under  //   1983  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1997 - Sony Music presented Michael with a special award to signify sales of 100 million singles and albums OUTSIDE of the United States, since his first solo album for Epic Records in 1979, "Off The Wall".
Filed under  //   1997  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1991 - In New York City, the biggest deal in music history was announced between Michael and Sony, who bought CBS in 1988. The Japanese-owned multi-national corporation signs Michael to a 15 year, 6-album record and film contract.

Michael enters the Guinness Book of World Records as the highest paid entertainer in the music industry and up to today still holds his record. The Guinness Book of World Records reports that the contract is worth US$ 890 million [US$ 1 billion is estimated].

Michael received an US$ 18 million cash advance for the forthcoming album, plus a $ 5 million bonus for this and each of his next 5 albums.

Michael, now the highest-paid entertainer in the music industry, receiving a royalty rate of 25% on each album sold. He is also CEO of his own record label, Nation Records [which was renamed to MJJ Productions later], for which he will receive US$ 1 million per annum. The lucrative deal is reported in the press as setting new standards for cost and scope.

1998 - Michael appeared for the second time on the German television show "Wetten dass...?" ["Wanna bet...?"] to announce that he will hold 2 charity concerts:

"Michael Jackson and Friends", one in Munich, Germany [June 27, 1999], and one in Seoul, South Korea [June 25, 1999].

Michael's appearance attracted the same record-breaking viewership of 18 million in Germany alone, like his first appearance on November 4, 1995. Michael's now second appearance is again a mega event for both the fans and the press!

Filed under  //   1991   1998  

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